When many saw that the New York Red Bulls were paired with Premier League champions Chelsea in this year's International Champions Cup, the vast majority of observers figured that it would be a walk in the park for Jose Mourinho's men. Although the MLS side do have some quality players, this is their first appearance in this tournament and they would be taking on one of the strongest sides in not just England, but across Europe.
Well, the Blues and their supporters were given a shock as Jesse Marsch's side defeated them 4-2. Even more impressive for the hosts was the fact that Marsch opted to field several youth and second-string players against a strong Chelsea side. Now, buoyed by that confidence, they will now face off against another big European side in Portuguese giants Benfica.
Unlike the Red Bulls, Benfica have not had a good tournament so far. They were first defeated by PSG in an agonizing fashion after Les Parisiens rallied back in the last half hour to snatch a 3-2 win. Against Fiorentina, the Águias were unable to score in regulation time and ended up losing on penalties to the Viola, meaning that they are still searching for their first win.
The Primeira Liga winners saw captain Luisao sent off after two yellow cards, meaning that they had to face the Italian side not only a man down, but without their skipper and created a huge hole in their defense. Of concern to the Portuguese powerhouse will be the fact that the Red Bulls managed to defeat a team like Chelsea sans the presence of stars like Bradley Wright-Phillips, who was the league's top scorer last season with 31 goals.
The English born attacker was given a rest due to having featured in a tough game against Philadelphia Union and will be fresh and available for selection for his coach tonight. As such, it will be interesting to see how the hosts will fare yet again against a Benfica side devoid of confidence and desperately seeking a victory in what has been a disappointing tournament thus far.
Will the New York Red Bulls shock another big European side and make MLS fans proud yet again? Or will Benfica be finally able to get back on track with a much-needed win?
LiveSoccerTV.com's got you covered. Make sure you check out our NY Red Bulls vs. Benfica special page for all your viewing information for wherever you call home.
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